Greetings from Maple Plain, MN. We hope you find this occasional update interesting and useful. In this issue we are covering the following topics:

• Our building's new look
• Protomold® in the news
• Our continued expansion
• GE material availability issues
• SolidWorks Print3D features Protomold
• Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference
• Expanded web site is operational

Note: If you have something you'd like to see addressed in a future update, just send us your thoughts via email to info@protomold.com.

Check out our new look!
We've recently added a new sign to the front of our building, and we like it so much we thought we should share it with you. At night it will have green and purple neon backlighting? just like the Protomold logo.

Protomold in the news
Since our February Update we've been fortunate to be featured in a number of articles and case studies about our Rapid Injection Molding process. The complete list of articles can be found on the news page of our web site, but the major articles appeared in Product Design and Development, DesignFAX, Plastics News and Medical Design News. Additional case studies written by Protomold's customers will continue to be published in the coming months and we really appreciate their support.
Our expansion continues...
In March, our newly expanded Sales & Customer Service group submitted a record number of ProtoQuotes? to customers at an average turnaround of under four hours after receipt of their 3D CAD part model.

And during the same time period we manufactured 160 molds, averaging a daily shipment of prototype or low-volume injection molded parts from 7 different new molds per day.

Given this rate of throughput it won't surprise you to learn that we also needed to expand our computerized mold storage facility, which will be completed this month.



And we won't stop there. We're continuously working on the "rapid" in Rapid Injection Molding through internal software development and the streamlining of our internal manufacturing processes. Combined with additional facilities investments over the coming months, the expansion of our capacity will continue - so we're ready when you need us.

GE material availability notice
Due to "unforseen incidents" in GE resin manufacturing plants, we are experiencing extended lead times on several of their materials. Please keep these lead times in mind when ordering production parts or considering materials for new designs:

Resin Lead Time
Ultem (all grades) 8 weeks
Cycolac MG 37 12 weeks
Cycolac MG 47 6 weeks

Check out the SolidWorks Print3D utility
If you're a SolidWorks user, check out the new Print3D feature under the "File" menu of SolidWorks 2004. Print3D provides you with the ability to request a ProtoQuote for your design without leaving SolidWorks.
Join us at The Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference, May 10-13, 2004 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan - Booth #229
If you're planning to attend the RP&M conference in May we'd be happy to get you registered for free (normal non-SME member cost is $45). Just use the link to the right, and once you are at the show please drop the Protomold booth and say hello. We'll be in Booth #229 and look forward to seeing you there.
Check out the new Protomold web site
Based on a combination of your feedback and our desire to make it as easy as possible to work with us, we've significantly revamped our web site. Please check it out and let us know if you have any suggestions or comments.
If you are new to Protomold, we are bringing together information-age technologies and an advanced mold-making process to radically reduce the time it takes to create injection molding tooling for prototype and low-volumes of plastic parts.
This means that we can mold your parts faster and more cost effectively than anyone else, and in the engineering resin of your choice. Please see our web site for application examples or request an online ProtoQuote.


   

Rapid Injection Molding

Real Parts.   Real Fast.   Real Savings!

The Protomold Company
1757 Halgren Road
Maple Plain, MN 55359 USA
(763) 479-3680
(763) 479-2679 (Fax)

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